Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-01-14

0 in tho river, so ruflleless did it seem {,
l lie evon when the strong current wa
, moving. A blue heron stood at tn
I water edge meditating, with one foo
, planted on sand and the other tucke,
: up invisibly. 1t slightly spread it
, mighty wings, shook them, and foldct
them again to place, without appearin.
, to break the trance of its downward
: stare. When the White Dove churnet
along, shadows stretched upon tn,
: Wabash. Now it was very late after
noon, and now it threatened to be even
ing, with hint that by and by it woult
be night, when you might expect the
woods to make deep black borders
along the river, and the canopy of star;
to look smoarcd by the little steamers
smoke-stack.
When Beetrus was pale and tirpd she
turned and leaned against her mother
an ample, indulgent woman, who
nevertheless had one bristling mole
upon the right side of her face. She
broke the tacit silence in which they
had begun their journey by declaring:
"Ma, love you"
You don't often put body out tell
ing thcm that" responded Mrs. Jen-
kins, uttering gratificd laugh.
81 keep up n dreadful loving, though, ="
said Bcctrus, casting sidewise ut the
river black eyes which swan in waters
of their own.
you're my baby" said her mother,
| f1a e1; I
neck. There's plenty of pretty young
men in the world, but there's only one
old mother"
81 don't care any thing about the
Young men," said Bectrus, with strong
scorn. ~ was thinking good while
in the woods to-day, coming from the
post-oilice, and I've made up my mind
never to get married."
you'll turn around often enough
before the time comcs.n
81 never will,n emphasized Beetrus,
"We'll be two nice old ladies together,
ma, and neither of us will get married"
II won't, for n sure thing" laughed
her mother. "But you'll only be mid
dle-aged when I'm ready to totter.h
"Yes, that's So said Beetrus, sadly.
"And then if one would die and leave
the other"
"Now, now, don't You fret, lovey.
I've had considerable trouble and ex-
periencc, and if don't sigh round, you
needn't. Who's that nice-looking man
that keeps looking back this way?"
Beetrus had been facing down river,
with her mind completely closed to any
moving figures on deck. She looked
back over her shoulder.
"Why, it's"-she exclaimed, swal-
lowing her breath with gasp-"it's
NJ Poundstone."
"That correspondent of yours?" said
Mrs. jenkins, nodding her head, and
inspecting him sincerely with such
thoroughness as intervening barrels
permitted.
Beetrus' ears rang. She had, how
ever, that instructive Western courage
which sometimes takes the place of dis
ciplined self-control; so by no other clew
than the deepening fire of her cheeks
and eyes did she give Mr.. Poundstone
brought her when he climbed passage
over impediments and placed himself
in the party. His manner was subdued,
even becomingly humble and concili-
atory.
MA, this is Mr.. Poundstone," said
Bcetrus, secretly triumphant in being
free from the subservicnce which yes
terday would have made her say: "NIr.
Poundstone, this is my mother"
She did not add to her unconsidered
formula now, but allowed him to lift
his hat and bow over her mothers
hand.
I'm glad to meet you, Mrs. Jenk-
ins," said he. IL want to make friends
with you, and get you to convince your
daughter I'm not such Il bad fellow as
look
"You don't look like bad fellow"
she responded, heartily.
II didn't know you were going up on
the boat" said Bcetrus, regarding with
gentle indifference the brim of his hat,
after he replaced it.
"You know couldn't 20 off on the
train and leave matters in the shape
they are. | never sold a bill of goods
in New Harmony in my life, but I'm
going to try to make n satisfactory
trade for myself now, if the house turns
me off for it,"
Beetrus parted her lips, smiling, and
this time met him in the eyes. Without
formulating the fact, she knew there
was sterling man under the crust of
acquired coarseness. The brutal plan
he had formed concerning her, and
which he was now scarcely willing to
acknowledge to himself, began to with
draw from betwixt them like the mist
which already wavered on the hills.
II believe it will be clear day to-
morrow" said the girl, falling back
upon good commonplace.
"Do you believe it will be n clear day
tomorrow. Mrs. Jenkins?" inquired
Poundstonc.
"Well, it seems like it might be
pretty" responded the widow, turning
up her face to see the pinkness reflected
from the west.
Then I believe it will, too," said the
commercial traveller, with n devout
air, which was unmoved by Beetrus's
laughing out:
"A great deal prettier and clearer
than to-day has been. M II. GATHER
rood, in Hayper'S Bazdr.
Clearinp the Table